Straightedge



Get. 31, 1933.

H. H. WARNER ET AL 1,933,155

STRAIGHTEDGE Filed Sept. 24, 1931 Han/39H h bllil 7 /70/1705 Keller flyZbeir AZiO/Jitj) Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICESTRAIGHTEDGE poration of Minnesota Application September 24, 1931 SerialNo. 564,762

3 Claims.

Our present invention relates to straightedges and more particularly tometallic straightedges intended for general use but especially welladapted for paperhangers for use in guiding a knife or trimmer whencutting or trimming a roll of wall paper or similar wall covering beforeapplying the same to a Wall.

Straightedges now commonly used by paperhangers are either made entirelyof wood or of wood that is metal reinforced or metal bound, or both, andare objectionable for the reason that they soon get out of true due totheir moisture contents and climatic changes.

The object of this invention is to provide a hollow metal straightedgethat is of light-weight and that will not bend, twist, contract orexpand, and hence, will always guide a knife or trimmer in a truestraight line.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novelconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and definedin the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved straightedge;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of one of the end portions of thestraightedge;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view in longitudinal section taken on theline 44 of Fig. 1.

The body 5 of the straightedge is hollow, rectangular in cross-sectionand, as shown, is formed from a single sheet of metal 6 that wasprimarily flat. The longitudinal edge portions of the sheet 6 form thetop member of the body 5 and are spaced to form a groove or way '7 thatextends the full length of the straightedge. This way '7 is relativelyclose to the trimming edge 8 of the straightedge and with which itcooperates for guiding a paper or other trimmer, not shown. Either edgeof the straightedge maybe used for guiding a knife held in the hand ofthe operator and having either a straight blade or a cutting wheel.

A reinforcing rib 9, which extends the full length of the straight edge.is pressed from the bottom member of the straightedge. This reinforcingrib 9 extends into the hollow body 5, is in the form of an inverted Uand the top member of said body, at the inner edge of the way '1, restson the crown of said rib and is rigidly secured thereto by rivets 10.

The ends of the body 5 are closed by filler blocks 11 that are rigidlysecured thereto by rivets 12. The outer faces of the filler blocks 11are flush with the ends of the body 5 and have in their tops notch-likepassageways 13 arranged to permit a trimmer for paperhangers and of anywell known make to enter the Way '7 from either end of the straightedgeand move the full length of said straightedge during trimming action.

The drawing illustrates a commercial form of the invention, but it willbe understood that the same is capable of certain modifications. as todetails of construction, arrangement and combination of parts within thescope of the invention herein disclosed.

What we claim is:

1. A hollow straightedge formed from a primarily flat single sheet ofmetal, the exterior of the straightedge, in cross-section, being arectilinear parallelogram, the distance between the parallel upper andlower members of the straightedge being materially less than thedistance between the parallel edge members thereof, the bottom member ofthe straightedge being pressed inwardly to form an inverted U-shapedbead the crown of which aifords a support for the top member of thestraightedge, the width of the bead being relatively narrow with respectto the width of the straightedge, the edges of the sheetbeing at the topof the straightedge and between one of its edge members and the bead andspaced to leave a way therebetween.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 which further includes filler blocksclosing the open ends of the straightedge, the top member of thestraightedge being rigidly secured to the filler blocks on each side ofthe way.

3. A hollow straightedge formed from a primarily flat single sheet ofmetal, the exterior of the straightedge, in cross-section, being a. rectilinear parallelogram, the distance between the parallel upper andlower members of the straightedge being materially less than thedistance between the parallel edge members thereof, the edges of thesheet being at the top of the straightedge and spaced to leave a waytherebetween, and filler blocks closing the open ends of thestraightedge, the top member of the straightedge being rigidly securedto the filler blocks on each side of its way.

HARRY H. WARNER. THOMAS KELLER.

